Okay guys... I don't know a thing about curb bits or curb straps. But I don't see anything wrong in Tnavas explaining the curb and the chin strap and their differences. It got slightly O.T when nosebands and cavessons came into play, which may be why the debate got so heated... but again, pieces of leather people!

But wow, why is everyone getting upset? It's just a piece of equipment. These are people's feelings you are tampering with.. and over what a piece of leather?

Chilllllllllllllllllllll down. It's hard to know the tone of a post when it is read from the internet. In person this convo may have gone differently because I am sure Tnavas did not mean to make smrobs grumpy or cause her to think she is "lowly"

Anita you asked a question, it was explained to you and then you researched it yourself. Good! Now you know :) And now we can move on.

personaly i think you have a serious schooling issue not a bitting issue. you can keep chaning your bit but all that will get you is harsher and harsher bits. What do you do when you get to the breaking the horses jaw stage (yes there are bits that will do that if you pull hard on them)?

Guinness - is there any possibility that your horse has pulled back recently?

What you are describing could be a horse that is not comfortable in the poll region.

A chiropractor will be able to fix that problem quite easily.

Often when a horse starts to behave out of character its because they've been up to mischief in the paddock, racing around and slipping or falling over or pulling back when tied up.

Another thing to consider is the magnesium levels in the grass he's eating. Rapid grass growth will result in low levels of Magnesium available to the horse. Again this is easily fixed by a tablespoon Epsomo salts (MAgnesium Sulphate) in the feed twice daily. Though it is best given in a small feed about 1hr before riding. Low levels of Magnesium can make the horse flighty, spooky and a short attention span.

Hope you are able to get things fixed - its frustrating and dissapointing when youaren't enjoying your riding horse.

Funny, thing you mention pulling back when tied up. He has actually done that twice in the past month because something has spooked him.

He is let out every day in a huge pasture with two other horses. I do not think he has fallen or slipped but, than again I am not at the barn until around 7PM, each and every night during the week until. I spend most of my weekend mornings with him because by the time noon comes in TX , is way too hot for me to ride him!

The grass levels in the pasture are not growing at a very fast pace...so hopefully his magnesium levels are ok.

I used to have him on herbal calming meds approved by his vet. Maybe it is time for him to start taking them again!

Thanks so very much for your kind response and helpful hints.

It is just going to take patience and lots of work to get us both were we need to be ...so our rides can start being enjoyable!

Guiness - sounds like you have the answer to his naughty behaviour - the pulling back - do you have a chiropractor in your area? One or two tweaks and youo'll have your happy horse back.

I had a school horse years ago that was really naughty about pulling back - whenever he did it he'd be obnoxiouis until the chiro had been. Eventually chiro showed me what to do, after each treatment horse would be back to his normal helpful self.

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